Temporary binder.



Patented May 6, I902.

' A. a. BALLUFF.

TEMPORARY BINDER.

wil 71665 es. M7

A. G. BALLUFF.

TEMPORARY BINDER.

(Application filed May 25, 1901.

Patented May 6, I902.

3 Shaets$heet 2.

n J m No. 699,279. Patented May 6, I902. A. 9. BALLUFF.

TEMPORARY BINDER. (Application filed. May 25, 1901.1 v

3 Sheets-$heei 3.

(No Model.)

IIIL

"m: NORRIS warms co. ware-mum. WASHINGTON. q. cv

UNIT D STATES PATE T OFFICE.

ALBERT G; BALLUFF, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

TEMPORARY BINDER.

SPECIFIGATION fonning part of Letters Patent No. 699,279, dated Ma 6, 1902.

application filed May 25, 1901. Serial No. SL821. (No model.)

To all whont't't may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT G. BALLUFF, a

citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Chicago, Cook county, Illinois,

- have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Temporary Binders, of which the following'is a specification.

In some classes of work it is desirable or necessary to provide means for increasing, decreasing, or changing at will the leaves or sheets of a book and at the same to be able to firmly bind them in the book, whether the number be great or small. complish this purpose are known as temporary binders, and they find a large field of usefulness in ledgers, journals, indexes, and other books of account, though their scopeis in no wise so limited.

This invention relates to these so-called temporary binders,and has for its objects the provision of a device that will admit of the ready removal and insertion of sheets or leaves of the book, that will allow the sheets to be increased or decreased to any extent within the limits of the device, and one that will firmly bind and hold the contained sheets as long as desired and that will, allow ready access to them, as in any ordinary book.

Additional objects are the provision in such an instrument of an expansible back forthe binder which hides the mechanism inthe interior and presents a neat and finished appearance to the exterior and the production generally of a device that is'complete, efficient, and comparatively cheapto manufacture.

To the accomplishment of these objects and such others as may hereinafter appear the invention comprises the novel construction and combinations of parts hereinafter described, and particularly pointed outin the appended claims,reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, forming apart hereof,in which the same reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views, and in whichv Figure 1 is a front perspective View of the open binder. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the back with parts removed to show the inside apparatus. Fig. 3 is a perspective detail v view of the expanding mechanism. Fig. 4 is a crosssecIt-ional View of the device; and Fig.

Devices to ac-;

5 is a detail of the sheet, showing the secur- -ing-slot'in the leaves. Fig. is a sectional view'of the open book. Fig. 7 is a sectional View showing a modification, and Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectional detail view of the same.

In the figures the numerals 2 2 designate the covers of the temporary binder,which are hinged to the back part at the edges 3. This back part comprises and incloses the mechanism for expanding and contracting the binderand; firmly gripping it upon the contained sheets.

In Figs. 1 to 6 the invention is shown as having covers 2, which may have a filling of pasteboard or any preferred substance and covered with cloth, leather, or as desired and clamping members 3', forming part of the back of the binder. These members each comprise the inner and outer plates 4 and 5, secured to an ex'pansible and collapsible framework consisting of the longitudinal bars or strips 10 and 11,'which have the preferably integral short bars 12 and 13 extending forward therefrom, the intermediate ones having their forward ends joined by the telescoping pins 6, the tubular portions 6 being carried by the outer bars or arms 12, while the solid pins 6 are attached to the ends of the similar arms or bars 13. The removable sheets or leaves 2 of the book, which are of a size to nicely fitwithin the covers, are provided with apertures 7, (see Fig. 5,) with communieating slots 8 extending to the near-by edge of the sheet or key-slots, as they may be termed, the corners 9 being clipped off to preventthe same from curling or turning over and to more readily allow them to be placed in position on the pins. The side plates at a'nd5 may be secured to the framework in any desired manner, a convenient method of securing the inner plates t to the intermedi ate strips 13 being shown in Fig. 1, a lug 14E being formed from the plate itself, bent at right angles thereto and riveted to the arm 13. The upper ends of the plates may be brazed to these bars, but are preferably cut longer than the framework and are bent outwardly at top and bottom to form the end covering 15 and 16 of the said framework. These end portions 15 and 16 or covers are made wide enough to enable the same to be hinged at their edges to the expansible and.

again bent at right angles toward the opposite ends, so as to form the edges 17 and 18 of these box-like clamping members. The ends 15 and 16 do not extend quite to the outer plates, so as to permit the expanding or contracting of the members. The outer plates are preferably soldered to the arms 12, the upper and lower arms forming a telescoping joint with the end pieces 15 and 16 and serve to maintain the ends of the clamping members closed. These clamping members are expanded and contracted and held in adjusted position by means of the togglelevers l9, pivoted at their outer ends in recesses 20, formed in the upright bars 10 and 11, the inner ends of said levers being pivoted to nuts or sleeves 21, traveling upon the reversely-threaded portions of the rods 22, resting at their lower ends upon the bottom end plates 16 or projecting through a short slot in the same and their upper ends being squared, as at 23, and projecting through short slots in the upper end plates 15 for the handy application of a socket key or wrench by means of which the rods may be rotated and the toggle-levers bent or straightened as the nuts 21 approach each other or separate.

The sheets orleaves of the book may be inserted with the key-slots over the pins, the slots 8 allowing them to fit over the bars 12 and 13 and closely against the plates 3 and 4. The rods 22 may then be turned to tighten and clamp the plates 3 and 4 upon the bundles or sheets or leaves therebetween and firmly hold them in position, the covers 2 being hinged, as explained, at the outer edges of the clamping members. The sheets may be narrow enough to freely fit between the upper and lower edges 17 and 18 of the clamping members, or they may be notched at top and bottom to fit around these projecting edges.

In order to facilitate opening the book, the clamping members are hinged together at their back edges, and when the book is opened fiat, as in Figs. '1 and 6, they open about this hinge, as shown.

In order to provide a back to the binder which will present a curved surface of ordinary appearance and one that will hide theinterior mechanism just described,as well as present a neat and finished appearance, I mount a curved back 25, of any desirable still and strong material, in the rear of the clamping members. This back should not be wider than the two members when they are contracted to their greatest extent. It is provided with end pieces 26, extending toward the clamping members, on the inner surfaces of which the retaining-plates 27 are adapted to slide, the inner ends of these plates being secured to the hinge-pin 28 of the clamping members and their outer ends being secured to the inside of the back 25 by the curved springs 29, as shown, which permit a flexible connection between the back and said members, and at the same time the back is held in proper relation to the members.

The spaces between the edges of the curved back 25 and the clamping members are filled by the longitudinal members 30, which are substantially semicircular in cross-section and are so adjusted as to at all times fill said space, whether the binder be expanded orcontracted, open or shut. This adjustment is accomplished by providing the filling members with axes 31. and mounting rods 32 in the end plates 26 of the back 25. The members 30 are also hinged at 33 to the outer back edges of the clamping members. A set of toggle-levers 34, extending from sleeves 35, Fig. 3, on the axles 31 to similar sleeves 36 on the rods 32, serve to vary the distance between the axles and rods, the latter sleeves being regulated in distance apart by the extensible arms 37, which are hinged at one end to said sleeves and fixed at the other to said sleeves 36. When the clamping members are expanded or contracted as aforesaid, the arms 37 are carried up or down with the threaded sleeves 21, thus correspondingly sliding sleeves 36 upon the smooth rods 32 to separate or bring together the toggle-arms 34 and adjust the position of axes 31.

The back 25 is of course always held close to the semicircular filling members 30 by the spring 29. The pivot or hinge joints of the arms 37 and their loose telescoping joint is to permit the variation of angle between them and the toggle-levers 34 when the book is adjusted to different widths or when it is opened, as in Fig. 6, the extensible feature of the arms 37 also permitting the opening of the book, as in Fig. 6.

When the book is being opened, as in Fig. 6, the filling members 30 will rot-ate slightly in the direction of the arrow, and the central proof-rod 28 will move forward or upward, as shown.

The described construction results in a structure which is at once adjustable within suitable limits by the operation of a simple key, which permits the ready removal and insertion of leaves, and which at all times presents a closed, neat, and finished exterior.

In the modification describedin Figs. 7 and 8 the plate 27 is slidable in a groove formed in any desired way or, as shown, in the end pieces 26, the said pieces being made thick enough for the purpose, and the axles 31 are also supported in slides 40, working in similar grooves in the same piece, as shown; otherwise the construction in these figures is substantially the same as in the former instance. The plates 4 and 5 thus adjustably connected constitute a leaf or sheet holder, or, in other words, aclamping member, adapted to clamp or hold anumber of superimposed sheets or leaves. As explained, two leafholders or clamping members thus provided and arranged side by side or when the binder is lying on its side one on top of the other are preferably hinged together at their back edges and also preferably provided with yielding or shifting connections with the bindersaid leaf-holders, and a sectional back connected and arranged to automatically adjust itself when the said leaf-holders are adjusted.

6. In a temporary binder, the combination of a plurality of hinge-connected leaf-holders, threaded rods and toggle-levers for changing or varying the leaf-holding capacity of said holders, covers swingingly connected with said leaflholders, and a back constructed and arranged to automatically expand or contract with the said adjustable leaf-holders.

7. In a temporary binder, the combination of aplurality of hinge-connected leaf-holders, threaded rods and toggle-levers for varying the size or leaf-holding capacity of said holders, a member adapted to serve as the main section of the binder-back, filling members adapted to serve as supplemental or side sections of said back, and suitable connections between said leaf-holders and said main backsection, and also between said leaf-holders and the filling members, whereby the temporary binder can be readily opened, and also whereby the back of the binder will automatically adjust itself with respect to the expansion or contraction of the leaf-holders.

8. In a temporary binder, the combination of a pair of expansible leaf-holders hinge-connected at their inner corners, a back having a shifting connection with the axis about which the leaf-holders swing relatively to each other, adjusting devices for varying the size or leaf-holding capacity of said leaf-holders, connecting devices whereby the said back automatically adjusts itself with respect to the expansion or contraction of the leaf-holders, and covers swingingly secured to the outer corners of said leaf-holders.

9. In a temporary binder, the combination ofaplurality ofleaf-holders or clamping membore, a hinge or pivotal connection between the inner corners of said leaf-holders or clampin g members, toggle-lever devices for varying the size or leaf-holding capacity of said leafholders or clamping members, a back having shifting connection with said leaf-holders or clamping members, and covers swingingly connected with the outer corners of said leafholders or clamping members.

10. In a temporary binder, the combination of a pair of expansible leaf-holders hinge-connected at their inner corners, a back having a shifting or sliding connection with the axis about which the leaf-holders swing relatively to each other, adjusting devices for varying the size or leaf-holding capacity of said leafholders, connecting devices whereby the said back automatically adjusts itself with respect to the expansion or contraction of the leafholders, and covers swingingly secured to the outer corners of said leaf-holders.

11. In a temporary binder, the combination of a plurality of leaf-holders or clamping members, a hinge or pivotal connection between the inner corners of said leaf-holders or clamping members, a back having a sliding connection with the axis about which the said leafholders, and covers swingingly connected to the outer corners of said leaf-holders.

13. In a temporary hinder, the combination of a plurality of expansible leaf-holders, hinge connection between said leaf-holders, the said holders being in a superimposed or one-ontop-of-the-other condition when the binder is closed and lying on its side, adjusting devices for changing the size or leaf-holding capacity of said leaf-holders, and covers swingingly secured to said leaf-holders.

14. In a temporary binder, the combination of a plurality of adjustable leaf-holders pivotally or hinge connected together and arranged to lie one on top of the other when the binder is closed and lying on its side, adjusting devices for varying the size or leaf-holding capacity of said leaf-holders, a plurality of members combining to form a back to said binder, swinging or shifting connections between said back members and said leaf-ho1ders, and covers swingingly connected with the said leaf-holders.

15. In a temporary hinder the combination of a pluralityof hinge-connected leaf-holders, a rigid member serving as a main section for said back, and a spring serving as medium of connection between the main back-section and the pivotal or hinge-like connection between the leaf-holders, whereby the said leafholders may be caused to swing relatively to each other when the binder is opened.

16. In a temporary binder, the combination of a plurality of hinge-connected leaf-holders, each leaf-holder being provided with a plurality of telescoping devices adapted to extend through holes or openings in the leaves, a back having a shifting connection with said leaf-holders, adjusting devices for varying the size or leaf-holding capacity of said leafholders,and covers swingingly connected with the outer corners of said leaf-holders.

17. In a temporary binder, the combination of a plurality of adjustable leafholders, said leaf-holders being arranged parallel and adapted to lie one on top of the other when the binder is closed and lying on its side, each leafholder being provided with telescoping end walls, adjusting devices accessible through openings in said end walls and adapted to vary the size or leaf-holding capacity of said leaf-holders, a suitable back having swinging or shifting connection with said leaf-holders, and covers swin gingl y connected with the outer corners of said leaf-holders.

18. In a temporary binder, the combination with clamping members for the leaves or sheets of the book, said clamping members being hinge-connected and adapted to lie one on top of the other when the binder is closed and lying on its side, of a rigid back flexibly secured to said members, so as permit freely opening the binder or book.

19. In a temporarybinder', the combination with a plurality of clamping members hinged together, said clamping members being side by side when the binder is thrown open, of a sectional back secured to said members, to permit the free opening of the book and the operation of the clamping members.

20.' In a temporary binder, the combination with two clamping members having side plates, between which the leaves are adapted to be clamped,of telescoping pins between said plates on which the leaves are adapted to be strung, adjusting devices between said plates for separating the plates or drawing.

them together and clamping them upon the contained sheets, and pivoted or hinge-like connections for securing said members together in the binder.

21. In a temporary binder, the combination with two clamping members, each clamping member being adapted to clamp a number of the sheets or leaves together, of covers hinged to said members, aback for said members also secured to said members and comprising a central curved portion, and curved filling members at the edges of said central portion.

22. In a temporary binder, the combination with two clamping members, variable in width, of a central back portion no wider than the members when contracted to the 2 greatest extent, filling members semicircular said leaf-holders, and pivotal or swinging connections between said leaf-holders and said back, and also between the leaf-holders and said 'covers, said rigid back being provided with relatively adjustable sections permitting the back to automatically adjust itself, and

thereby fit any dimension to which the said leaf-holders are adjusted.

Signed by me at Chicago, Cook county, Illinois,this 20th day of May, 1901.

. ALBERT G. BALLUFF.

Witnesses: I

CHAS. .C. BULKLEY, HARRY P. BAUMGARTNER. 

